BY KHADIJA BATUTA

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. is offering assistance to eligible persons who have recently become unemployed and do not have prescription coverage.  Under the Pfizer MAINTAIN Program (Medicines Assistance for Those who Are In Need), individuals and their immediate family members can continue to receive their Pfizer medicines for free for up to one year or until they become insured, whichever occurs first.  More than 70 primary care medicines are available through the program.

With Pfizer acquiring Wyeth in October, several Wyeth medications are also included in the MAINTAIN program.

To qualify, individuals must meet the following requirements:

• Unemployed as of January 1, 2009
• Prescribed and taking a Pfizer drug for at least three months prior to becoming unemployed and enrolling in program
• Without prescription coverage
• Can demonstrate financial hardship

Information and applications are available online at http://www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/ or you can call toll free at 866-706-2400 with questions.  Enrollment for the Pfizer MAINTAIN program is open through Thursday, December 31, 2010.

For those who do not qualify for the program, assistance may be available at 866-706-2400, through Pfizer Helpful Answers®, a family of patient assistance programs for the uninsured and underinsured taking Pfizer medications.